Sunday, October 17, 2010

As far as my memories would serve - I was born a baby, was a teen and now an adult. Or am I still an innocent young teen? That sounds good! Well, I just turns 22. Alhamdulillah... Friends and family wish me "Selamat Hari Jadi", but sometimes I wonder, selamat pulakah hari matiku? A simple question yet requiring an intricate answer.

It's been nearly 694 million seconds 200,000 hours 264 months 8000 days (so I love calculation, enough said) since I realized that I am proud to have been blessed with the childhood I had, even if at times I wanted to grow up very fast. I'm passing my gratitude to God Almighty for all the blessings He has bestowed in my life. Thank you Allah (^_^)

Well, back to the current situation, guess the pictures explain everything. Here it goes:

Friday, October 8, 2010

I know that it's been quite soundless for sometime. I mean the blog. Me? I talk whenever I have the chance. Not that I lost the enthusiasm to write, it's just that time has been running real fast. And I'm not a good runner. At least from my point of view. Well, I'm still around and kicking. Just that things has been quite hectic since the past few weeks and not to mention, plain laziness... let's not forget that.

There are just so many things I want to write, but so little time. Where should I start? Bismillah...

After what so called the best days of student life, of course holiday... the last cuti raya was the best ever. But after that, life is back under construction, which includes degree life, of course =)

Ohh, looking at the time. I guess that I still have 3 minutes to finish this entry. So that is like 180 seconds. At least the number is bigger.

Back to the main interest here, err... forget the interest. I'm seriously running out of time. CS lab will be starting about... about now.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

It felt like yesterday when I last updated my blog with an exciting post regarding the 1st Ramadhan. Without even realizing it, time indeed flies. Muslims are within the last three days of Ramadhan.

There I was all by myself, supplicating earnestly in my du'a, praying that Allah allows me to reach yet another Ramadhan next year. There is no guarantee though. As one becomes more uncertain as to whether he/she gets to live for yet another day. We all know that death can come to us at any point of time and without any preceding signs. This remind me of what happened last week.

19 Ramadhan 1431H

My heart wrenched with sheer sadness having heard that my grandmother (we all call her embah) has passed on. I received the news just after my E.M exam. Shocked, but quickly gripped my spirit between sadness and relief. There I was at a corner inside my room, wiping over my tears. For such loss, never forget to say "Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rojiuun', reminding ourselves that we all belong to Allah and it is to Him indeed that we shall return.

Embah peacefully sighed her last breath at about 2:30pm on the 19th of Ramadhan. May Allah bestow His bless upon her.

Farewell my dear grandma, rest in peace until the day we all shall meet again.

In life, there will definitely be a day when you might fall down. You cried because you have a cut on your knee, or that the ankle is bruising up. But it isn't the injury or the nature in which you fell that matters, but it is how you get up from it.

And that, is the character of STRENGTH. To get up, when you have fallen down. To cry over something that saddens you is a mercy which Allah puts in the hearts of His servants. And verily Allah shows mercy to those of His servants who are merciful. InshaAllah.

It's coming! It's coming!=)Ramadhan is here!!It's not just about syaitan diikatbut it's a month filled with Allah's bountieslike its there...we just need to grab them... as much as we can!

Allah gave long age to the previous peopleNabi Nuh spread the word of Allah for950 years... that implies he'd probablylived for more than a thousand years...

so subhanallah, probably ibadah-wisewe'll never be able to catch up with those pious in previous times...

but this is it!Ramadhan!! Allah opening the doors of oppurtunityto catch up with those people!!malam lailatul Qadr...the blessed night which Allah will rewardas if 1000 years..the every second throughout the month itself!so much is there that Allah is wanting to give!!

ya Allah... ya Allah...give us the strength and opportunityto use every single second to the fullest!!Ameen... ya Rabbal Alamin!

like an ugly caterpillar crawling into its pupa...and thenceforth evolving into a beautiful butterfly!

like us crawling into Ramadhanand thenceforth evolving into a beautiful individual!

ultimate beauty is the beauty that lies within...and beauty within can only flourish by the Grace of Allah...ya Allah, make this Ramadhan means to alleviate us in Your Eyes!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

A young boy, a wise grandfather, a beautiful reminder... and this... is OUR story... Here it goes:

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked,"Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied,"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said,"You'll have to move a little faster next time,"

He sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said,"I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,"

He went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.

Out of breath, he said,"See Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?"

The old man said,"Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and outside. That is the work of Allah in our lives."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

It's been quite a while since I last posted a real entry into this humble blog. So many things have been happening over the last two weeks, many of which are significant ones.Concerning the lack of updates for the past month, I’ll try to make it up with this entry which obviously doesn’t have a title. Or perhaps the most unique title I’ve ever used.

When I was trying to look at this world from a different perspective, I know that each and everyone of us are on a long but temporary journey, and that the destination is the hereafter, either Paradise, or Hell. Keep that in mind. Indeed, no one said this journey was gonna be easy.

Whenever we feel that patience is running out as a result of the things that go against us, just recount the endless blessings that God has endowed us with. All this time, when my faith is being tested, I remember all the whines and complaints that I make whilst adapting the reality prompts me into thinking "What an ungrateful slave of Allah am I?" It's not like I don't have enough foods in the kitchen, or that I am starving to death. How lucky am I compared to the so many unfortunate people out there?

People in Gazaare deprived of foods, clean water, or even a shelter to protect themselves from the adverse weather.Thechildren in Africaare malnourished, lying helplessly with flies all around them, surrounded by vultures waiting to eat them once they die.

They are never given the opportunity to enjoy the life I, You and We have. Yet they adapted, in a circumstance worse than us truly. How ungrateful am I when these people, amid their struggles, can still praise and thank Allah whenever they are blessed with a loaf of bread, or even a bottle of plain water.

Allah teach us patience in the most beautiful way we can ever imagine. But, I am just like everyone else. I cry when things go beyond my control. I cry when trials just kept on coming over and over again. I cry when I feel helpless in the battle I face. But my dearest friends, it's really ok to cry. That’s what my good friend said. Natural it is for a human being to feel sorrow over times of hardship. The heart doesn't have to be dead or numb. Our beloved Prophet cried over the death of his son, Ibrahim, yet he is the epitome of strength in the face of trials and tribulations.

The important thing is how we reacted after we cried. That’s what differentiate us from others.

In life, we choose who becomes our friend. We determine the type of person we want around us, be it a good or a bad friend. A friend you'd hope will remain by your side through the thick and thin. But try as we might, we always feel that friends can only help us to a certain limit before we know we're on our own.

Families, we don't choose them. They are God's gift to us. Curse your luck for getting a nasty sister or a big fat brother, they are part of you and that is final. It's not exchangeable.But ironically we can always be sure that families will always be there for us, when no one else does.

As one saying goes,the only rock I know that remains steady, and the only institution that I know works, is FAMILY.

Love your family. Pray for their well-being in this world and in the hereafter. Don't break their hearts for you're only gonna break yours.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

It's 6.14 pm on Sunday the 9th of May. Today equal Sunday equal to Mother's Day. So many words to write... and thoughts to ponder... and emotions to feel... and appreciation to my most beloved, dearly Mak... but so little time. As I wrote this quick, short and brief post, I knew that I would not have enough credit to call my mom and speak for hours. What kind of daughter am I. The time is tik toking in its own rhythm, and I still haven't call Mak and wish her Happy Mother's Day. Ok, InsyaAllah after maghrib prayer I will make a what so called i-miss-you-mak-and-did-you-miss-me?-and-terpaksa cakap laju-laju sebab kredit nak habis ni mak-kind of call. Takpe mak, nanti balik rumah kita chit-chatting lama-lama k? InsyaAllah.

Hmm... for the past few days, my life is like a tenacious roller coaster ride. It's kind of miserable. The hiatus does come justified, believe me. It's been busy. "Lucky" me and my teammates to be the first group to present the case study. Congrats!! After hours of brain storming, the solution for the case is almost complete (at least from what alleged to be called Mechatronics student who studied economics, point of view). To my standard, it is done. Though we are all not sure if it is correctly solved or not. Leave it to my kind lecturer to judge it.

Back to the main interest here, well... to you mom, whom I love infinity much, some things are not meant to be expressed in words for words are merely a verbal interpretation of our thoughts, dreams, and desires. Sometimes… words are just not enough to express that which lies in the heart. Even so… in a flawed and imperfect explanation… thank you for supplicating me with enough protection and love. Thank you for giving me the strength, courage and willpower to stride through my tests, even though I appear my weakest, most timid and inept. May Allah give you strength, patience, health, happiness, and love. Even without Abah at your side, but in my eyes, Mak is always special. You will always be a perfect beautiful mother. I love you from the day I was born, and will always love you till the day of my final breath. If I go before you do, may we met again in the Jannah. InsyaAllah.

Mak,You'll never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have left.

The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [ Allah ] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Sigh. That is my first reaction when I hurt my palm, accidentally. It happens… again. Frankly speaking, I’m not really sure how it happens since it was too fast. One moment I was filing the steel, another moment I can see blood and feel the pain. It was really hurt. The lab is such a dangerous place. So, safety first my dear friends!! But then, comes to think of it, it was my own mistake. I have no one to blame but myself. It’s not like I can blame the steel or the steel file.

Alhamdulillah for the test, to be honest I’m grateful. At least it reminds me that I have a perfect pair of hand. When I was struggling to do so many things using only my right hand, it makes me ponder how much patience that the handicapped people have. They face the challenge of normalizing their lives with patience, strength and courage. Many of them accomplish this with such flair that they no longer see themselves as “different.” May Allah facilitate them in their adversity and enable others of us to become a supportive force for them. InsyaAllah. After all, Allah has promised us that our lives are a test for us. Degrees and forms of our trials vary from person to person, even family to family. However, it is up to us to have fortitude, accept the test, and then actively work to make the best out of them. Indeed, Allah has promised that with every hardship there is relief and that no person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear.